Question

In "An Introduction," what does Kamala Das assert about the language she writes in?

• A. It should follow strict grammar rules
• B. It is half English and half Indian, but entirely her own
• C. It must always be in Malayalam
• D. It is borrowed from British poets

Answer 1

Answer:

B. It is half English and half Indian, but entirely her own

• Kamala Das faced criticism for choosing to write in English, which many viewed as a colonial language and not her mother tongue. In the poem, she directly addresses these critics, asking them to "leave me alone" and asserting her right to speak in any language she likes. She declares that the language she uses "becomes mine, its distortions, its queernesses / All mine, mine alone." This powerful statement conveys her sense of ownership over the language.